The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd-HOUR-2-Russell Wilson, Giannis, star power

Episode Date: September 9, 2020

Fans feel Russell Wilson is being held backGiannis Antetokounmpo should leave the BucksWhy big market teams go for star playersGuests: Ric Bucher, Jonathan Vilma Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. Hour two. A lot of football today. Get to that in a second. Mark Schler with Jonathanville in the last hour. Rick Buker around the corner this hour. This is the herd, live in L.A., wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Fox Sports Radio FS1. A lot of people have commented on the beard. My face, I'm going for it.

I think it looks nice. I think it's a very different look for you. I feel like it makes you more approachable. Really? You're approachable? Yeah, like, you know, you just, like you can have a beer with you, right? Isn't that like the, that's the saying? It's yeah. I feel like I have a beer with him. Really?

I think it makes me look a little shady like I just had some corruption in my life. What I'm talking about? Facial hair is completely normal. Is it? All right. Yeah, we just showed like a million pictures of quarterbacks in the league. I know you're not a backwards hack guy, but you're certainly not an anti-facial hair guy. No, I like facial hair.

I didn't think I could grow it until about a week ago. Yeah, you always said you couldn't grow up here. Who knew? Is that why? No, I don't even know. I just got, you know what, man, it's COVID. You and I worked really hard. I just, it was.

We did. The whole year is different. And I just just said, I'm just going to go for it. And I don't care if my bosses don't like it. I'm just over it. I had to go four months without a game. I'm going to do it all with my face. It's my face.

I think he did a tremendous job. I actually think it looks very nice. Well, okay, thank you. All right. So there's this whole story about Yonis. Yonis, a great player, great kid. Is he going to leave Milwaukee? He's got a year left in the contract.

You know, he's going to opt out, whatever. Listen, I can't speak for joy, but I think this is true. It was not easy to get here. We both work really hard. But if I would have been as talented as Joe Buck and had an easier option, I would have taken it. I am, don't confuse the difference between willingness to work hard. I have my whole life and so have you. but if I would have been as good as Bob Costas at 28 or Joe Buck

and network would have come to me at 28 and said they don't have to do local TV, come up to the network. Yeah, I would have taken that. And so Yonnas can stay in Milwaukee and do the Dame Lillard route. Be loyal, be beloved, make Max money, and win some games. I got no problem with it. Or you can do the easier route like Kevin Durant and say, I'm going to go to a big city that attracts big stars

and play with great players and win titles. that's what I would choose. I believe in hard work. But when you get to Springfield, Massachusetts, and you're giving your Hall of Fame speech, you don't get longer applause because your route was harder. When Shaq's giving his speech, nobody says, you know, he left Orlando.

When Karim's giving his speech, yeah, like, well, I don't know. How could you leave Milwaukee? They care about the points, the titles, the ring, the moments. It's not going to be as easy for Janus in Milwaukee. You could go down to Miami. Pat Riley's got 10 titles. He's now in his 18th conference championship as a coach player executive.

Spolstra's got two. You got aqua water in the winter, a great free agent market. It's a plug and compete for championships for eight-year city because they've done it a bunch. It's not that Yannis doesn't want to work hard. It's not that Dame doesn't want to work hard. You can be a popular anchor in Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Memphis. That's a good life.

But if you're an MVP, two-time MVP, you don't get bonus points for struggling. Make your life easier. That's why I've never resented people in my industry that are really, really talented and they had famous dads as broadcasters. Hell, if I did, I'd have taken the advantage. My dad was an optometrist. I mean, you know, I didn't want to be a doctor. But if my dad was a sportscaster and I got a network gig because I worked really hard and maybe, you know, some connections helped me a little bit.

Not saying those guys wouldn't get there anyway, but I would have taken it. It'd be stupid not to. Take the easier route if it's offered. Don't be stubborn and rigid. It's this puritanical American thing like, I've got to work hard. Most people work hard. But if somebody opens a door for you, take it. Aqual Water, Free Agent Market, Pat Riley, Eric Spolstra, Jimmy Butler, History of Titles.

That's where I'd go. Wouldn't be that tough. Let me talk. Oh, Rick's ready. So I'll go to him before I get to my Russell Wilson stuff. You know, I have a rule on this show. Can't go a week without a Russell Wilson topic. But let's go to Rick Buecker, Fox Sports NBA analyst, and joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network.

You know, it's funny about this. I never banged on Kevin Durant. when he made his life easier. He had worked his butt off at Texas, his butt off in high school, his butt off in Oklahoma City. He got tired of playing with Westbrook. He wanted to play with Clay and Steph.

Yonnas should leave, right? Miami's plugging titles, right? I'm not crazy on this, right? I am praying, Colin. I am praying that Janice Antecovo does not hear a word of what you're saying, or if he does, that he dismisses it out of hand. You were talking about,

I don't even know where to start. First of all, the whole American puritanical approach take the easy way. Okay, that might apply to Americans, but Yanazant de Kumpo is not. He had to take a hard route to get here, and taking that hard route brought him to a place that he never dreamed of being.

So if we look at everything that he has said and done, there is no question that he's going to stay in Milwaukee. He would have to do a complete 180 in order to go someplace else. And this is where I think you're a thousand percent wrong, is that right now, because of KD and LeBron and Kauai, all taking the easy route, there is a crying need, a starvation among basketball fans, to have a Dame Lillard who actually is capable of winning a championship.

And Janice Anta Ticompo is that. Dame Lillard is maxing out what he's capable of. He's still going to need help around him. Janus simply needs to get better. The issue is not Milwaukee. It's not the market. It's Yonisanta Ticompo needs to develop his game to the point where he can be that guy that leads a team to a championship.

We had this debate brought up elsewhere about is he a Jordan or a Pippin. Well, skill-wise, talent-wise, ability-wise, he's a Scotty Pippin right now. But from those that have coached him that I've spoken to, he has a Jordan mindset. He's not afraid to take the shot with the game on the line. He's not afraid to be a closer. He simply needs to develop the skill set that allows him to do that. But if you look at LeBron James and his championship in Cleveland versus the two that he got in Miami or whatever else he did in Miami, the one in Cleveland is the one that cemented his legacy. And in my mind, means more than the two that he got in Miami or anything that he would get in L.A.

Well, we have a difference of opinion. If that door opens for me, I just walk through. Because you're an American. because you're an American, Colin, and you're into commerce. You're into transaction. Yes. Janice is more of just a from the heart. I'm fortunate.

I'm an immigrant that has this NBA team that decided to take a chance on me and made me their superstar. And the gratitude that he has, I mean, look, Dirk Novitsky, did he ever go anywhere? No. Palgassal, did he ever go anywhere? No, not until Memphis decided, you know what, we're done, we're ready to move on, we'll trade you. Marcus Sahl. If you look at international players that have had teams that have said, you're our guy and we will build around you, their gratitude is different than the guys who grew up playing AAU here who are just used to, hey, where are the best players?

Where's the best team? That's where I'm going. Yeah. Well, I guess my heart's not big enough. All right. So, if we cared about points, I would spend my whole show talking about Carmelone, but I talk about Michael and LeBron and Shaq. I talk about titles. James Harden, once again, appears somewhat disengaged in the biggest moment of the season for Houston. And I'm just over being told how, you know, he's this, he's the MVP, he's the next this, he's the next that.

Three meaningful shots late. LeBron's in year 17. He's blocking shots like a rookie, passing, yelling, telling, coaching. I don't want any more excuses. Harden to me look disengaged at times in the fourth quarter. Is that unfair? It's not unfair. And this is what I struggle with with James, is that trapping him and forcing the ball out of his hands is the easiest way to end his involvement. And if you watch LeBron, if you watch some of the best players when they are double teamed, yes, they give up the ball and then they move without the ball and make hard cut, either to get the ball back or to still shift the defense toward them to create something for somebody else.

James approaches it, oh, you're going to double me? Okay, I guess I got to let somebody else do the work and doesn't continue to try to exploit the defense. And that's my issue. Now, it may be just a fatigue thing. He's got to do so much when he's got the ball in his hands that he can't do that and play off the ball. But that, to me, is the heart of the issue here. And why I had the Lakers initially winning this series in five, because the rockets are fairly simple to figure out

and to have that element that is going to diffuse what makes them special. And primarily, it's doubling James Harden. because once you get the ball out of his hands, he doesn't do a whole lot of work after that. You know, it's interesting. I've said I've watched every team multiple times in the bubble. I think there's seven good teams, not special, one that's occasionally special, but briefly the clippers.

Are you bothered at all that they can't put back-to-back great performances together? I mean, it's just been this way, the entire bubble. They're like a strobe light. Like every once in a while, they flash and go, oh, boy, that's great. and then it's off again. It's, they flip the switch, and then they flip it off again, and then they flip it on again.

Yes, no, that it, it, uh, it concerns me because talent wise, if I look at all of the rudiments of that team, they are the team to beat. Yes. And they should be decisively, but they are their own worst enemy because they play one game and they prove it. And then they downshift again.

And the endurance, the mental endurance, of playing hard and playing hard for 48 minutes and doing it game after game, I've never seen a team that wins a championship that isn't capable of that. And I've been waiting. Like, during the regular season, okay, I get it. But at some point, you have to turn that switch and you have to stay in that mode. And we still haven't seen it.

Some of it, obviously, is that Lou Williams and Montres, is Harold. We're late getting to the bubble for a variety of reasons. They haven't looked nearly the same. But I'm just not seeing the necessary intensity quarter by quarter game by game. And yes, it's a bad habit. Developing the mental toughness to stay stuck in when things get hard, no matter what, is a muscle that you develop. And the clippers have not developed or not demonstrated that they have that muscle yet. Good. So I think we're done there. That was very good. I feel very good.

Your heart is not that small. You're not the grint. It's not that small. But let Yonah stay in Milwaukee. Let a small market win a championship. If he does that, if he wins one in Milwaukee, it would mean more than going

any place else and winning three. Oh, give me a break on this small market. Didn't Spurs dominated the league for 15 years? Yeah. And does anybody question the heartfelt love for Tim Duncan? Does anybody, like Manu Genoobli, Tim Duncan, there's no dispute about them. They have a place in not just San Antonio hearts in every basketball fan's heart

because of the way they did it. Oh, so boring. Listen, I'm not going to like cities less because they have more tall buildings. I got nothing against small markets, but I get it. You know what? You know where, by the way, you want to know where Kevin Durant was this weekend? In my little, in Manhattan Beach. Why?

Yeah. Because a big city with a bunch of stuff to do. And because he's American. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I think Americans have big hearts. I don't know. I think it's a big heart country. I think we're being tested right now.

Yes, we are. Rick Buechre. Thanks, buddy. Coming up next, you know, Russell Wilson, the fans in Seattle are so frustrated with Pete Carroll. They've got a new club defending Russell Wilson. It's very funny. We'll talk about that next.

One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call

it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators,

and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me

or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Kim's? but you got to do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade. of my own experience in the middle health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person? because you're afraid. Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, IHartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Fox NFL Sunday is back this week with a great slate of early games. Then it's a blockbuster in America's Game of the Week as Brady and the new look bucks take on Breeze and the Saints. Check local listings for the games in your area or watch it on the Fox Sports. I can't wait for it. Cannot wait for it. Sunday, I get the Seahawks at Atlanta.

Saints are my team this year. Saints are your team. In the NFC. Tampa Bay, I think, is my team. So we've said analytic people in the NFL are now seeing it. I've been talking about this for years, is that Russell Wilson, I think, is the best football player in the world. But I have Seattle at 10 and 6 because even though he plays the most important position, Seattle's coaching staff does not let him be the best football player in the world. If you go look at

the last several years, passes in the first quarter, fewest passes in the first quarter. This is funny. Seattle number one, Jags Washington Bears. So basically Pete Carroll treats him like Blake Bortles, whoever's quarterbacking Washington and Mitch Trubisky. That's why Russell Wilson is frantically coming from behind to win games. They're in a hole a lot because they run it too much. It's almost like Russell Wilson is a major league pitcher on a pitch count. He's the only great quarterback in the NFL, maybe an NFL history that has a head coach that doesn't necessarily coach him for four quarters,

allowing him to win the game. Pete Carroll wants the ball in somebody else's hands early in football games. Half-time deficits, he has to save the team. And I think that stats amazing. Fewest pass attempts first quarter last several years. All those teams are bad at quarterback. And then here's the best football player in the world, number one. It's pretty amazing.

And number one, like, you know, look at who's around him. And, you know, it's funny about this league. So they've started in Seattle, a local vocal segment of Seahawk fans have started a social media movement called Let Russ Cook. It's on T-shirts. It's all over Twitter. It's on social media. Let Russ Cook. Let him play.

What is remarkable about this is that Bill Belichick, is the greatest football coach we believe ever. He lost in Cleveland. He lost in New England before Brady, and he'll have his worst team in 20 years this year. When did he win? When he had a great quarterback. Pete Carroll was fired in New England.

He was fired with the Jets, and he was 14 and 18 in Seattle until he got Russell Wilson. And we think Belichick and Pete Carroll may be the best two defensive minds in the NFL over the last 15, 20 years. These are great coaches. Belichick's a first ballot hall of famer. Pete's going to get a lot of votes for that.

So even great coaches, as Herm Edwards always told me, I wouldn't have worked at ESPN and I had a great quarterback. I'd still be coaching. Now he's at Arizona State. So the great coaches, the guys that win games, Belichick, Pete Carroll, losing records before they get Brady and Russell Wilson. So the fans of Seattle now are seeing something that the analytics are telling you,

Loud Mouse like me are telling you, people are now seeing it is that let Russ cook. Mahomes, Wence, Lamar are allowed first play of the game to be themselves. They're not in a hole. You're not handing the ball to people. You want the ball in Wence's hand, in Mahomes' hand, in Drew Brees' hand. With Russell, he's the only great quarterback in the league. The team takes it away from him, forcing him to make miraculous comebacks, which he often does.

but let Russell let Russ cook finally people are buying into this thing that we've been on for a couple years here this is the team this is the guy Richard Sherman's great wasn't his team Arshon Lynch is great wasn't his team

Pete Carroll's great it's not his team it's Russell's team let Russ cook joy with the news No Turn on the news This is the Herd Line News Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz The Best or Nothing

You and I both were pretty high on the Broncos a few months ago. I was much higher eight weeks ago. Yes. Well, they'll be missing their star past Russia this season. Vaughn Miller injured his ankle at the end of practice on Tuesday, and it is reportedly a dislocated tendon. He will likely need surgery, and the typical recovery time is said to be five to six months. So the best case scenario is he returns in three months.

Really bad news for the Broncos. And this is disappointing. Von Miller is one of the stars in the league and certainly a leader on this team. It's disappointing. When you have Patrick Mahomes in your division, pass rushers become huge. That's why they had Von Miller and they have Bradley Chubb. So they have two really chargers also in that division have two really good pass rushers. It's why the Raiders, I think it was last year's draft, first pick, get a pass rusher.

This is when you have Mahomes in your division or Brady or Breeze or you want pass rushers to disrupt their life. This is a huge blow. Mark Schleris on next hour, huge blow for Denver. Yeah, he had 46 total tackles and eight sacks last season. And obviously is one of the faces of that organization. And like you said, that's someone that you want on the field when you're in that division. So hopefully it's not as bad as they are projecting. And he is able to come back in a few months.

But just still, just bummer news. So evaluating college players ahead of the 2021 NFL drafts will be much different this year, with some conferences postponing the season and individual. players opting out. And Steelers GM, Kevin Colbert, said that while he understands why some have chose not to play, he will be more likely to draft someone who takes the field in 2020. He said the players that get the opportunity to play and choose to play, we feel more comfortable in their evaluations because I just don't know, sitting out a year what those players are going to look like. There's just not a real natural source of information. We respect

the fact that they aren't playing, but I think the best decisions we will be able to make are the ones where we can see them play in 2020. You know, it's interesting. There is a difference between you have a right to do something and it's the right time to do something. Like I, players have a right topped out. But if I was a, unless I was one of the 12 guys in the league, I would have played. Now, again, Oregon left tackle, go.

A great quarterback go. There's a difference between having a right to do something and is the right thing to do. And I think for most kids, another year of playing college. First of all, they're only like 19 now. Like another year of playing college football, you've become a better football player. Well, this is a lot different than, say, sitting out of a bowl game.

Oh, that's totally different. If you're not in the college football playoff, who cares? Well, you already played 12 games. And people that freak out about that. Like, okay, he is preparing for his future for the next 10 years of his life. Instead of a Liberty goal. You're worried about a bowl game.

You can brag to your buddies is your alma mater one. Relax. This isn't about you. This is bigger than that. And I would mostly agree, Like an extra year of college football is going to benefit 99% of college football players. There is a very small percentage that, you know, if the Steelers feel this way, okay, well, then I won't end up with the Steelers.

I'll end up somewhere else, but I'm still a top, you know, 20 pick in the NFL draft no matter what. So I'm not going to risk it this year. It's understandable. And again, I understand what he's saying. We respect the fact that either, you know, you've chosen not to play because of what's happening or your conference isn't playing. But really what he's saying is in the draft, if it comes down to an SEC player who we saw this year

and another, a Big Ten player who is not playing, and they're the same, their equal talent, they're going to go with the player that they saw last year. Again, you have a right topped out. I don't want to. Well, I mean, those Big Ten players want to play. Yes. He's not, but he's saying that he's going to go with the player

that he has seen play most recently. Like, that's going to be their policy when it comes to the draft. And it likely will be other teams that look at it as well. And this is why it's so, complicated in the college sports space because it's not as simple as, oh, I'm a NFL player. I've already made some, you know, millions of dollars. I have a family. I'm going to sit out this year. Last two number one picks Joe Burrell, Kyler, Kyler, do not go number one if they don't play their last year. In fact, I can make an argument,

Joe Burrow would, because he became a phenomena. Yeah. Joe Burrell may not get drafted. Yeah. Kyler would have been drafted. Joe Burrow is a completely different situation. She's acknowledged. Like, if he didn't play last year, who knows what his life looks like this year. He was the guy that played at L. you and couldn't get it done and had to trans from Ohio State. That's what he is. Yeah, it's going to be very interesting. Obviously, everyone is making adjustments and we're all going through this together.

But the draft next year, I mean, I think we all agree the draft this year was phenomenal. Unbelievable. Especially considering the circumstances. Yeah. I actually kind of liked it more that way, to be honest with you. So did I. And that was a little more personal. Way more personal.

I know. It's super fun for the fans. And it's a big thing for the NFL to have the fans in the city. And, you know, it was amazing in Nashville. but it's going to look very different next year with a lot of guys not playing. Finally, the Bucks suffered another disappointing exit this year falling in the second round to the heat.

Nice gentleman sweep. And they could face more bad news next year if Yonis decides to leave, but Milwaukee may pursue another top player to help keep Janus there. According to Mark Stein, many rival teams think the Bucks are going to explore a trade for Chris Paul if the Thunder make him available.

Well, they lost Malcolm, their point guard. Brogton to Indiana. A lot of people think that's, it just, they never recovered from that. They've got a, they've got a couple of good wings. But when they lost Brogden to Indiana, it's never the same offense. And it would be with Chris Paul. Well, they may have trouble matching salaries in a Chris Paul trade, but that would obviously improve the offense and show Yonis that they are committed to winning.

And they're serious about it. He's owed more than $85 million over the next two seasons. So it doesn't really fit with a rebuild in OKC all over. They've had an amazing run this year. Who knows what direction they're going in now? Billy Donovan leading. This would be a big move. I still don't know if it's enough, to be honest with you.

I'm not being disrespectful to what Chris Paul has done this season. Boy, Chris Paul, Janice, Middleton. That's a pretty good club in the East. That's pretty good. I think he is the difference. I really do. I think that a, I think he would be huge for them. But let's not forgets, because we are all forgetting.

getting. Brooklyn is not going to be one to be played with next year. You like him a lot more than I do. Yes, everyone is forgotten. Kevin Durant is a superstar. He's going to be back. He's going to be right back to where he was before. You have Kyrie Irving, Steve Nash, and Brooklyn did an amazing job in the bubble this year. So it's not going to be the same East next year. I have very good sources on Kevin Durant because my buddy was at the beach Sunday and came over to my house last night and showed me a bunch of pictures of Kevin Durant playing baseball on the beach in Manhattan Beach. He rented the house. I even know where

the house is. I'm not going to say it. And he was just by the way, he was on the beach. Everybody was like KD. You're awesome. It's LA so nobody gloms on. Yeah. It's like but it is different to see a seven footer at the beach. Playing baseball. Kevin Durant was there. Join his time off. There you go. Joy with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurdline News. Jonathan Vilma had a great NFL. career. He is a new Fox football analyst. He's going to be joining us here in about 10 minutes, so don't go anywhere. I've watched him play for years. He's terrific on the air. We've done it. We've done our management, you know, in between and just hanging out and doing nothing. Occasionally, they go out and get great young talent, and Jonathan Vilma is really good, and he's part of the

network. By the way, I did see this. The Rams signed Jalen Ramsey to a massive contract, and I'm reading Lindsay Theory. She is a sports reporter for the LA Times. She writes in her tweet She's got all these contracts guaranteed money. Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, Jaron Goff. And I've always told you, I think there's a little connection to LeBron here. When LeBron joined the biggest brand in Los Angeles, so the Lakers have always been the biggest team in town. And then you bring LeBron into it. The Rams are like, okay, okay, we're a little sleepy.

And by the way, it forced the clippers to get hyper-aggressive and go-get-quiet. Why, if you've noticed the Dodgers who were passing on all these big contracts, went and decided to sign on mooky bets. This is the power of LeBron. It's not that the Dodgers weren't good, but they'd kept passing and passing and passing. And now LeBron and the Lakers, this is a very crowded, option-driven sports market. And when LeBron arrived in Los Angeles, the clip, you just can't get, you can't just be good. You'll be overwhelmed with the biggest star in America.

and the biggest brand in the NBA. The Clippers had to go for it. They had to totally go for it. And the Rams, they're going for it. There's too many options, the beach. You're seeing the soccer teams do this. It's just I think when I look at the Rams, I look at an organization saying, listen,

not only is L.A. always been crowded, but aggressive is winning in Los Angeles. Netflix is aggressive. Elon Musk is aggressive. Disney is, you know, the acquisition company is aggressive. And I think in Los Angeles right now, which has always been a star-driven market, I think LeBron's changed it,

that when you put the biggest brand in sports with the biggest brand in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have to go get an MVP. The Clippers have to go get an MVP. I've said this about USC football. It's disappearing in the city. Go hire Urban Meyer. Go hire somebody big.

The market's too crowded now. There's too many good teams. And the Rams are like, listen, we're all in on this stuff. Nobody's going to games and talking about depth and lineback. That's not going to move ticket sales in Los Angeles. There's too many options. You know, when Pete Carroll was in LA dominating, the Clippers were a joke, and we didn't have a second soccer team, and the NFL wasn't here.

Now you've got two NFL, Dodgers, two soccer. The town is rolling, and I think it's why the Rams are going big. From the stadium to the free agents, I think there's a little bit of a LeBron component. Biggest star on the biggest brand in the city, and if you don't go big, you didn't. disappear. You disappear in this city. Jonathan Ville. Coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports

Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger, than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

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hour, Vaughn Miller's injury, could be season ending, potentially not season ending, but really, really bad news for him. By the way, Billy Donovan is not going to return to the Thunder next year. He was voted coach of the year by his, you know, peers and his colleagues. You know, it's really funny about be very careful where you put franchises. Reportedly, he just didn't want to be there, didn't want to rebuild, perhaps his wife didn't want to be there. Chris Paul doesn't want to be there. Be careful who you give an NFL. NBA baseball franchise too. Owners make a lot of money on that. Ten years later, you look up and nobody wants to be there.

I don't know. Jonathan Vilma played for a decade in the NFL a multiple time. Pro Bowl or Super Bowl champ, NFL defensive rookie of the year and a national chant with the Miami Hurricanes, as Joy Taylor knows. He's now a Fox Sports NFL analyst and joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network. It's great to have you in, Bears Lions game. It is great to have you as part of the Fox team. So let's just get into the Bears Lions.

So you were six years with the Saints, four years with a jet. I think you can fool a lot of people in the NFL, but you can't fool players. And I don't think the players buy into Mitch Trubisky. I don't. Do you right now think they're all in on Mitch as we go in a very tough division going forward? Yeah, they are. They're all in on Mitch. Here's why.

When Ms. Trubisky heard the rumblings from fans, coaches, teammates of his performance, you know, it didn't sink in until the Bears actually did something about it. They brought in Nick Foles, who we know is very capable of being a starter. And when I've seen competitions like that happen, the best response is for someone like Mr. Biskie to say, okay, now it's real. Before everyone was just talking, now it's real. They brought in somebody, and if I don't step up my game, I'm going to be on the bench watching every Sunday. And what do he do?

He became more accurate. He became more comfortable in the pocket. We already know he's very mobile. So there is nothing in Mr. Biskie or, excuse me, in the management, Ryan Pace, the GM, or, or Matt Nagy with saying, okay, we're just going to ride this guy out and then get fired, right? It doesn't make sense. So he had to perform.

He stepped up. And so far, he's the starting. You know, you played in the NFC South for a lot of years. You know the sensibility of it. So Tom Brady's been over in the AFC. Now he goes to the NFC. Now he's in the NFC South. He's got to go to the Super.

He's got to play in a couple of domes. Give me your thoughts on Brady and the introduction to that division. and the little secrets of it and the little nuances of the NFC South that you learned being there six years in New Orleans? I'd say the little nuances of the NFC South. When I was there, there was, I think, maybe one time that we actually were able to repeat as division champs. And it's because everyone was so evenly matched as far as talent.

And then when you take now going to a Sunday, you're taking a good day as far as a game plan. if a cornerback is on or off, if, you know, a quarterback is injured or running back is injured. And that was basically what was deciding the division champs, right? Injuries at the time, how well the team played or didn't play, et cetera. So Tom Brady is not going into, he has to understand, he's not going into the AFC East, where it's easy to just reign supreme. Look at the quarterbacks right now in the NFC South.

Look how dominant the quarterback's been. We're talking about Drew Brees, who's been dominant for it. It feels like 30 years, just as good as Tom Brady. It's not enough for Tom Brady just go out there, do his thing. He puts up some points, and we're done. It's all good. No, it's not going to happen that way. In the NFC South, it has to be both sides of football, complimentary football.

Everyone always talks about complementary football. The defense is going to have to step up. And if the defense can't hold a Drew Brees, a Matt Ryan, it's not going to happen. It doesn't matter how well Tom Brady plays. So he'll understand that as the games go on. There's going to be the learning curve of the timing. with him and his offensive players. They brought him for Nett, who's awesome.

But again, that that won't sink in until probably week four, week five of the season. So if you've ever been on a team, Von Miller out potentially the year for Denver. So you're just about to start the season. If you ever been on a team and you lose a star player, what is it due to the locker room? Man, it deflates the locker room. It is tough, especially with someone as dynamic as Von Miller,

because when you, you're an offensive coordinator, you're a head coach, offensive-minded head coach, you literally build a game plan around Von Miller. That is what you do. You say, okay, there is one guy, and it's happened. Sean Payton is coming to team meetings, going up against some of the best defensive guys.

And the first thing they start with, we have to account for this guy every time, whether it's in a quick passing game, whether it's a chop block, whether it's running away from him, whatever it is, you have to account for him. So now Denver loses this game-changing player, this generational player,

Ron Miller, it makes it that much easier for the opposing offenses to now attack the defense. And then going back to the locker room, who's the tree, right? Who's the foundation that's going to say, all right, let's go, guys. You know, when times are tough, we need to make a play. Who's going to be that guy to make the play? And when I say the tree, he's the one that was the foundation. He held the defense for the Broncos together. If you don't have that anymore, you know, it's tough sledding, man.

It's hard enough in the NFL to win. and not having a game-changing player like him, it's going to be real tough, real deflating for the Broncos. Jonathan Vilma won a title with the Miami Hurricanes, then won a Super Bowl championship with the New Orleans Saints. Let's talk about Kansas City. So you're on a Super Bowl team in New Orleans,

and it just seems natural. You win the Super Bowl, you have the trophy, everybody in town knows your name in your face, the natural letdown. Take me to your post-Super Bowl year. Take me to what you suspect the Chiefs will face. What is the hardest part about winning the Super Bowl and returning six months later to play? The hardest part, first part would be the business side of the NFL that happens after they win

the Super Bowl, there's still some hard cuts that need to be made, some signings, some trades. So as much as you want to keep that team together, because literally that team is what won your Super Bowl. As much as you want to keep that team together, you can't. The business side starts to take over. that's what happened to us in 2009 we won at 2010. Then from there, you have to now say what you just said. There's a letdown. It's a letdown.

We all knew about this letdown. So we try to work even harder. We try to counter against that. Well, it's not just the letdown. It's the letdown. Plus, your opponents are, they're vying for you. It's that you have a bullseye on your back. And everyone is going to watch the film on how to attack Patrick Mahomes.

Period. And now Patrick Mahomes is so great, you can't stop them. You can slow them down. I'm certainly going to watch that San Fran tape in the Super Bowl of the first three quarters 20 times to figure out every little thing I can do to gain an edge. And that's what's going to happen for the Kansas City Chiefs. Everyone's looking to gain an edge. And the difference in NBA playoffs and NFL playoffs, you don't have to be right four times

out of seven. You only got to be right one time. You only have to go against, you only have to have one bad game and Patrick Mahomes or the defense to have a letdown for it to be over. And that's it. There may be a team, let's say, oh, Baltimore Ravens, right? They're pretty damn good. There may be a team that has a great day and it's just not Kansas City's day in the playoffs and they lose.

And that's it. They don't get them seven times and go win four out of seven. It doesn't happen that way. So it's going to be very, very tough. I experienced it as much as we wanted to. Couldn't happen for the repeat. I've experienced it. It's going to be very tough for the Chiefs.

Jonathan Vilma is now part of the Fox Sports family. It is great having you in. Good luck, Bears and Lions. That is a 1 o'clock game Sunday Eastern on Fox. And we'll have you on often. Thanks, Jonathan. Appreciate it. No, thanks for having me.

You bet. By the way, I have tweaked my NFL predictions. I can do it today and I can do it tomorrow. And then they're set in stone. I will have a blazing five Friday, by the way. NFL starts tomorrow night. So my changes are small. I had the Ravens going 16 and 0.

I'm going to have the Ravens going 15 and 1. And I had the Titans at 8 and 8. I am going to make them 9 and 7. And therefore the Titans now are a wild card team, not the Chargers. So those are my AFC changes. Ravens go 16 and 0 to 15 and 1. I take one win away. I'm trapping myself at 16 and 0.

They can't have a bad fumble or a bad Sunday or rest people at the end of the year with a division clinched. And I do think I looked at the Titan schedule and I thought a lot of home games all the way up until mid-November. They're 9 and 7. So I give a Ravens loss goes to the Titans and I have the Titans being a wild card team going in. In the NFC, I'm going to take a win away from the Packers, still a playoff team. And I'm going to give it to the Lions. The more I read, look at their schedule, people feel good about staff. one hour from now, we're going to do the three-word game with the NFC.

So just subtle changes. Subtle changes. Ravens lose a win. Titans get it. Packers lose a win. Lions get it. Mark Schler, three ring, Super Bowl, champ, three times. He'll be joining us next hour.

Men boost healthy testosterone and burn fat. Try M Drive boost and burn. Walgreens, Rite Aid, vitamin shop. All have it. Check it out. drive for men.com. Today, two down, one to go, live in Los Angeles. This is the herd. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This

week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a hear, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

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